Apparatus for knitting undistorted looser stitches in selected portions of knitted articles



1962 c w MINTON 3,067,600

APPARATUS FOR KNITTING UNDISTORTED LOOSER STITCHES IN SELECTED PORTIONS OF KNITTED ARTICLES Filed Feb. 10. 1960 TO MAIN DRUM 4 F T0 KNITTING NEEDLES IN V EN TOR.

dim/Pam M/Wwmv I. WW fM Carolina Filed Feb. 10, 1960, Ser. No. 7,924 1 Claim. (Cl. 66-125) This invention relates to an apparatus for knitting undistorted looser stitches in selected portions of knitted articles. I

More particularly the invention pertains to an apparatus for knitting looser stitches in the tops and/or other portions of hose by spraying or otherwise variably coating the yarn being fed to the needles knitting said portions so as to temporarily increase the diameter of the yarn and/or lubricate the same whereby undistorted stitches can be knitted on needles designed and arranged for knitting relatively tighter stitches.

It has long been recognized as desirable to knit the top (especially in ladies fine-gauge hose) and/ or other portions of hosiery with looser stitches than the leg. However, machines set up to knit perfect (even) stitches in the leg portion have proven incapable of knitting looser stitches in the top without producing undesirably notice able irregular (distorted) stitches.

It is accordingly the principal object of this invention to provide an apparatus for knitting undistorted looser stitches in the tops on such machines by temporarily coating the yarn being loose-stitch knitted with an inexpensive, easily removed, diameter-increasing material, such as oil, wax, water-soluble sizing, etc., as the yarn moves between the bobbin and the knitting needles.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent as the following detailed description proceeds.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a generally schematic diagram of the apparatus showing the functional relations of the parts to be added to a knitting machine.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged elevational view, in vertical axial section, of the yarn-coating chamber of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a greatly enlarged fragmentary plan view of the yarn in axial section, showing the same before and after coating.

With reference now to the drawings, the numeral 11 generally designates the yarn-coating chamber, which can be molded of plastic material or cast of suitable alloys. Chamber 11 is disclosed as having a cup-shaped chamber proper 13 and a press-fitted dome-shaped cap 15. The cup-shaped chamber 13 has an integrally formed drain nipple 17 over which the drain conduit 19 of flexible and somewhat elastic plastic is fitted to conduct condensed spray to the return conduit 21. Return conduit 21 similarly may serve rows of knitting machines (up to several hundreds), and leads to a supply reservoir (not shown) from which the spray liquid is pumped into the supply line 23, which likewise serves rows of machines.

Flexible supply conduit 25 directs the coating material to the adjustable nozzle 27 of spray chamber 11. Nozzle 27 can be adjustable from zero to full flow and thus act as a cut-off valve in its zero position. Or a manual valve (not shown) can be inserted at any point in the supply ed Stats Patent branch line 25. Line 25 does, however, have inserted therein a valve 29 connected to and for automatic operation by the control drum of the knitting machine by conventional mechanism (not shown) so that the coating operation will be synchronized with the knitting of the top (or other) portion of the hose.

Yarn Y is guided from bobbin B thru guide G to yarntensioning device T. From here it passes thru the downwardly inclined input tube 31 into the chamber 11 for being coated by the mist M. The coated yarn Y leaves chamber 11 mm an upwardly inclined guide tube 33, and is directed by guide G and yarn finger F to the knitting needles (not shown) in known manner.

The coating material can be an oil, paraffin dissolved in deodorized kerosene or other solvents, water-solutions of glue or other sizing materials, etc., and can have any desired viscosity. The coating material can be very quick in drying or can reach the needles somewhat moist to provide some lubrication, as desired. The atomization of the coating material can occur either at the nozzle 27 or at the input to the supply line 23 (which if carrying a mist would necessarily be larger, and likewise the branch lines 25).

Another important advantage devolving from this invention, especially when practiced with an oil or other lubricating fluid, is the highly desirable indirect lubrication of the knitting needles, and in particular their latches, as well as the needle shanks, sinkers, etc., for smoother movements in their guide slots.

While I have shown certain preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that many changes can be made in the size, shape, and arrangement of the apparatus parts, or in the nature and degree of the method steps, without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the subjoined claim.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

Apparatus for applying a lubricant to a yarn as the same is drawn from a yarn supply bobbin and through the yarn feed finger of a knitting machine, said apparatus comprising a chamber supported in the path of travel of the yarn and between the yarn supply bobbin and the yarn feed finger, first means carried by said chamber for directing the yarn into said chamber, second means carried by said chamber for directing the yarn out of said chamber, means supported on said chamber for creating an atomized mist of lubricant within said chamber, drain means positioned in the lower portion of said chamber for removing condensed lubricant from said chamber, a supply line connected to said mist creating means for supplying lubricant thereto, valve means interposed in said supply line for controlling the passage of lubricant to said mist creating means, and means controlled by the knitting machine for selectively positioning said valve means in open and closed positions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,207,998 Eshleman July 16, 1940 2,258,421 Richter Oct. 7, 1941 2,332,738 Meade Oct. 26, 1943 2,522,211 Crawford Sept. 12, 1950 2,693,096 Quinn Nov. 2, 1954 2,800,779 Karl July 30, 1957 2,981,225 Vatt et a1 Apr. 25, 1961 

